A Converter for Analog to Digital TV

It won't be long before your TV goes blank. Is this the return of reading a good book for entertainment? Starting February 17, 2009 if you receive cable services with your analog TV, you may not get a picture on your TV, with very few exceptions.

Under legislation passed by Congress, over-the-air broadcast television stations are required to turn off their analog channels on February 17, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.

Analog Televisions do not have the capability to receive digital transmission, therefore, needing a converter box to receive digital transmission for an analog TV. To clarify, digital is not High Definition. High Definition is another type of technology, and can be purchased as a bonus or luxury to regular digital television. Digital Technology will give better audio and video quality to help our police and firefighters respond to emergencies, and provide innovative wireless broadband services to consumers.

They are a slight possibility that you may be able to get your favorite shows through antenna, during a transition phase. The transition phase will end March 31, 2008. If you already receive cable services with your TV and antenna, you will still need your antenna, along with your digital converter box, to watch television. Check with your local cable company as the deadline approaches.

The first HDTV converters available on the market for analog TV sets when the legislation goes into effect, is the RCA DTA800. It costs about sixty dollars right now, and if it stays that price, the coupon given from the Federal Government will reduce that price to twenty dollars per TV. That is a great price for some great quality picture and audio, but for many households, the reaction is different, especially among seniors, disabled, and low-income families.

The transition will be difficult on many household. However, The Federal Government has offered U.S. residents with a coupon program. Consumers can request up to two $40 coupons per household to purchase an approved DTV converter box.

In spite of those receiving a coupon, Wanda, a downtown Chicago resident says, "I am on disability, I can barely pay my rent each month, and twenty dollars is still a lot for me."

For those receiving a coupon, it will only be good for 90 days, and only one coupon is valid per converter box, and requests for coupons will not be available until January 1, 2008. You can get an application at your library, or you can also request them online, by phone, or through the mail.

It's a good time to rethink what entertainment is all about. With so much hassle, cost, and confusion over technology, it may be better to turn off the television, open a good book for entertainment.